16
Jack saw no sense in going back to Beekman Place, especially dressed as he was. Even if the mystery lady were home, the doorman wouldn't let him past the front door.
He picked up the late city issue of the Post before getting on the train.
He paged through it on the uptown ride. His heart fell as he came across the piece he'd been looking for but hoping he wouldn't find.
Jamie Grant, reporter for The Light, was missing. Police were speculating whether her disappearance might be related to the murder of the night security guard.
Shit. Jensen had her. No question.
Instead of going home, Jack got off at Columbus Circle.
The first thing he did when he hit street level was dial 911 on his Trac-fone. He hated to turn to the cops, but it was time. He was one man and Jamie could be anywhere in the five boroughs, maybe beyond.
"Listen up," he said when the emergency operator picked up. "I just read in the paper where the cops are looking for a missing reporter named Jamie Grant. She was kidnapped by members of the Dormentalist Church for writing exposes about them."
"What is your name, sir, and where can we reach you?"
"Never mind that. Listen: She was kidnapped by a guy named Jensen who's the Dormentalist head of security. Keep an eye on him and you'll find Jamie Grant."
"Sir—"
"Got that? Jensen. Dormentalist Church."
He broke the connection. Maybe they'd write off his call as the ravings of an MDP, maybe not. Jamie had been very publicly at odds with the Dor-mentalists, so the charge wouldn't sound complete blue sky. Jack hoped they'd focus at least some of their manpower and resources on Jensen and his church.
He walked down to the Avis place on West Fifty-fourth. He'd been using the John L. Tyleski identity for the past few months, and since he was a paid-up Visa Card holder with a current driver's license—courtesy of ID-maestro Ernie—he was allowed to cruise away in his usual rental—a Buick Century.
Jensen and his TP crew would be on the lookout for Jack's Crown Vic. This would give him a different look.
Jamie had said the Dormentalist bigshots kept their cars in a garage around the corner from the temple. Jack found a spot on the street downstream from the exit and parked. He checked his watch. Almost eight. He'd give it four hours, then call it quits.
Could be a long night.
But half an hour later, as he talked on his cell to Gia, he was pleasantly surprised to see a black Mercedes pull out of the garage. As it passed, Jack recognized Brady behind the wheel. Jamie had said he drove himself only on special occasions. Could this special occasion be a meeting with Jamie Grant?
Brady stopped at the red light at the end of the block. Jack waited for it to go green, then pulled out and followed.